Sheriff's Rep:There Was No Cover-up

7/31/2006 1:28 PM PDT

Sheriff's Rep: There Was No Cover-up

Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, just concluded (9:15AM PT) a press conference with reporters, answering questions about the Mel Gibson DUI controversy.

Whitmore, speaking outside the Sheriff's headquarters in Monterey Park, reiterated that there was no "sanitizing" of the police report and that no force was used in Gibson's arrest.

He went on to say that Gibson did not run away from law enforcement officers -- but as TMZ first revealed, the report and other evidence points to the contrary. According to the report TMZ obtained, "Gibson quickly turned and bolted towards his own vehicle." The report goes on to say that "Gibson attempted to escape arrest."

When asked about the case as it relates to the media, Whitmore said, "Is this a cover-up to the press or is it a cover-up to the public? Because we believe it is not a cover-up at all. Having said that, I understand the concern. Is there influence peddling here? Absolutely not."